Spezza is a bonafide #1 Centreman in the league and they are very hard to come by. Schenn had a rough year, and that's putting it mildly. Maybe under a new coach he'll come around and then again maybe he won't.

A 5th round pick is very nice, but it's still a gamble. There's no telling if he'll pan out or not.

Spezza is a bonafide #1 Centreman in the league and they are very hard to come by. Schenn had a rough year, and that's putting it mildly. Maybe under a new coach he'll come around and then again maybe he won't.

A 5th round pick is very nice, but it's still a gamble. There's no telling if he'll pan out or not.

I'll keep Spezza, thanks.

I think its the 5th overall pick, not a 5th rounder.

As to the OP, no thanks from Ottawa. Schenn is underacheiving, and there is no guarantee that the 5th overall even makes the NHL, and almost zero chance that he develops into anything remotely resembling Spezza. If Spezza was several years older, maybe I do this, but not when he's 28/29, and certainly not to our most hated rival. Not close to the kind of overpayment it would take (but realistically, Spezza will never be traded to Toronto).

Leafs would do this in a heartbeat in my opinion. Ottawa says no way and doesn't even have to think about it.

This.

Leafs need a #1 centre desperately enough.

Not only would Ottawa not want to draft someone like Galchenyuk at 5th overall, I don't think they need Schenn all that badly either. There are enough guys that fill his role more consistently on the free agent market.